The pressure to end the Cubs hilarious World Series drought--headed toward 102 years come October--apparently is quite tough on their managers and they seem to take their frustration out on Steve Stone.
The long-time Chicago baseball announcer left the Cubs booth following the 2004 season when then-manager Dusty Baker and players on the team, most notably Moises Alou and Kent Mercker, grew angry when Stone and then-partner Chip Caray had to audacity to call them out on their hideous play and bad attitude. Alou tried to get them kicked off the team's charter and Mercker called the booth to complain about Stone's commentary. The Cubs were universally predicted to win the National League pennant in 2004 and instead turned into the biggest group of underachievers in the franchise's sorry history as well as the most unlikeable as they choked away a wild card lead in the season's final week. Caray left to broadcast Braves games following the campaign and Stone resigned, briefly joined ESPN and now broadcasts White Sox games.
But working for the White Sox hasn't stopped Stone from commenting on the Cubs. The popular local announcer said on Comcast Sportsnet this week that Lou Piniella "doesn't have a great grasp on what to do with young players," something the Cubs have a few of right now (Tyler Colvin and Starlin Castro being the stars of the youth movement). Piniella has turned into a raging lunatic in response:
"Steve Stone? He has enough problems doing what he does with the White Sox. What job has he had in baseball besides talking on television or radio? What has he done?
"Why isn't he a farm director and bring some kids around? Why isn't he a general manager (or) put the uniform on and be a pitching coach? Why hasn't he been a field manager? There are 30 teams out there that could use a guy's expertise like that. I'm tired of some of these guys, I really am."
Fired back Stone regarding Piniella's comments about his not having credibility because he hasn't worked in a front office or on the field: "That might be one of the dumber things he has said."
And with that, another Cubs season continues to unravel and go down the drain. They are 27-34 and Piniella seems headed out the door at season's end when his contract expires. Piniella came to the Cubs with the reputation of being one of the game's best managers but with the postseason flops of 2007 and 2008, the missed postseason last year and the horrific start to this season, even that reputation could be in jeopardy. Dusty Baker, in fact, came to the Cubs with the same stellar reputation after a string of strong seasons with the Giants that culminated in reaching the 2002 World Series. That reputation took an enormous hit in 2004 and, in fact, has spent the last few years being regarded as one of the game's poorer managers, what with the mismanagement of rosters and especially of pitching staffs. Only now, with the Reds leading the NL Central after a 15-year playoff drought, is his rep starting to be salvaged.
Clearly, the trouble with the Cubs all these years has been the candor of Stone. One thing I'm fairly sure of: Stone will still be around, offering his honest opinions in Chicago, long after Piniella is gone (I fully expect Piniella to be working for Fox or ESPN or Turner or the MLB Network at this point next season). And the next Cubs manager will be the next who can blame his team's eternal misfortune on a local broadcaster.
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